Teatro Regio and Festival Verdi So you are in Parma, Italy – home of Parmesan Reggiano and Prosciutto but guess what else? Home of one of the greats… Giuseppe Verdi! Teatro Regio di Parma The Teatro Regio di Parma was …
Da Vinci’s Last Supper: Masterpiece in Milan-Our Incredible Visit
The Last Supper was top on our list to visit when we first arrived in Milan back in 2010. What we didn’t realize is that it was closed the only day we could visit. Rookie mistake. What we… and perhaps …
Behind the Scenes in Venice
Venice First of all, when you go behind the scenes in Venice, you can never get lost. That is what is the most fun about Venice just walking the tiny streets and trying to get lost. It’s almost impossible because …
How Well Do You Know Italy Quiz
Italy quiz! So… you think you know Italy pretty well? Want to make it fun and take a quiz? We thought we would introduce some quizzes every once in a while to provide information while making it fun. Sometimes we …
Coins in Fountains: What Happens to Them?
Throwing coins in fountains… it’s a time-honored ritual when finding yourself in front of a fountain. Countless people, including myself, have tossed coins into fountains to make a wish and possibly to bring us some good luck too. In fact, …
La Befana: Italian Tradition in January
In Italian Christmas folklore, La Befana (pronounced [beˈfana]) is represented by an old woman riding a broomstick through the air. She delivers various sweets and candy to good children on Epiphany Eve. But if you were bad – watch out… you …
Vino Sfuso: Wine on Tap – Do You Know?
What in the World is Vino Sfuso? In case you’re not aware… let’s introduce you to an entirely different category of wine. Sfuso or vino sfuso is the name given for bulk wine, you know the kind sold in five-liter …
Guinigi Tower | Lucca’s Beautiful Landmark
The Guinigi Tower is a beautiful landmark of Lucca and is easily recognizable by the garden on the top. A wonderful view of the city and the surrounding mountains is yours to enjoy for the easy climb to the top. …
Montalcino | Discovering the Beautiful Hill Town and Famous Wine
Montalcino, Italy Montalcino is one of the famous hill towns of Italy. It is located in the region of Tuscany in the Province of Siena. The town is 94 square miles in size and at an elevation of approximately 1900 …
Uffizi Gallery Museum | It’s Famous Worldwide
The Uffizi Gallery Museum is famous worldwide for its outstanding collections of ancient sculptures and paintings. Did you know, the Uffizi is home to some of the most important works of the Renaissance? These include masterpieces by Giotto, Filippo Lippi, …
What is Buccellato di Lucca? Ancient Bread Recipe
Buccellato di Lucca is from the Tuscan region and particularly – the city of Lucca. The bread is made with raisins, and it used to be the favorite of the Roman army. Shaped in the form of a ring or …
What in the World Is Phylloxera?
Before we came to Lucca in April of 2021, I had never heard of phylloxera or what effect it had on vineyards in Italy and all of Europe. Then we became good friends with Jim and JoAn and my wine …